LOAFER CRAZE

Loafer sales are up in the wake of Alessandro Michele’s commercial success at Gucci. Fuelled by Seventies' nostalgia, Michele’s vision is all about heavy-handed embellishment and gargantuan eyewear. This has sparked a renewed interested in Gucci’s accessories such as the brand’s seminal shoe—the loafer. First introduced by Gucci in 1953, and adapted for women two years later, the loafer has been reinterpreted by Michele in a variety of ways, prompting high-end labels to capitalise on the moment and release their own styles. As a result, a new shoe category is born; and retailers are seeing their loafer sales skyrocket.

According to analysts, the new loafer craze could rival the ballerina flat’s success. Besides Gucci loafers, retailing from US$595 up to US$1,100, loafers by Chanel, Prada, The Row and Tod’s are also selling fast. The wave has positively affected sales across the whole price point spectrum, allowing lower-end labels to jump on the bandwagon.